The Lycan's Healer Mate

Chapter 10 See You Again

Ryan's POV

Aunt Agnes thought my plan to recognize Mia is childish. Besides, she was reluctant to lend me her balcony because she had wanted it to be a workplace for the servant to set off fireworks. But Uncle Red managed to persuade her to save the room for me by depicting a lovely picture to her. He claimed that her generous assistance might help me marry the woman I love and it won't be long before she can see a bunch of pubs tailing after her in the Mansion.

The expression on Aunt Agnes's face was unreadable. She remained silent for a while and eventually agreed to lend the balcony to me. Uncle Red winks at me and nudges me to the second floor, while shouting at Patrick to carry the fireworks to another place.

When I head upstairs, Patrick is coming down with a huge box stuffed with various types of fireworks, piling up like a mountain. Aurora is following him closely with her intense stare fixed on the box, bombarding him with questions.

"How many fireworks are there?"

"I don't know." Patrick raises his chin up. He tries very hard to ignore the voice behind him so that he can pay more attention to maintain the balance, which was not easy because the box is so high that blocked his sight.

"Can I set off 10 of them?” Aurora asks and adds quickly, "since you have so many."

"No."

"What about 9?"

"No!"

"How about 8?"

"No! Young lady, I am busy and I don't have time for your counting-down game. Would you please leave me alone and have some fun elsewhere?"

Aurora pouts her lips and protests with arms akimbo, "You have so many of fireworks but you keep it to yourself and don't share them with others. You are meaner than scrooge."

"So what?" Patrick responds impatiently. He casts a glance at Aurora, nostril flaring.

Aurora narrows her eyes and warns him, "You'll be punished."

"By whom?" Patrick snorts and his indifference angers Aurora. She puts her foot in front of Patrick's foot deliberately and succeeds tripping him up. Patrick stumbles forward and is about to throw away the box when I can no longer stand and offer a hand to steady the box.

"Watch out."

"Thank you, Your Majesty.” This time Patrick succeeds recognizing me. He smiled at me and lets out a long breath of relief. Then he quickens his pace to head down stairs without looking back, desperate to run away from Aurora.

"Ryan!" Aurora cries with a gleam in her eye upon seeing me. She stretches her arms and jumps on me, leaving me no choice but to open my chest and hugs her. I don't do it on purpose. Shadow will understand.

Aurora nuzzles my neck and mumbles, "I miss you so much."

"I miss you more." I laugh and gently put her on the ground, "How have you been?"

"I am good." Aurora giggles and blinks her doe eyes, "Why are you going upstairs? People are all down there."

"I have something else to do."

"Don't you want to come with me? We can set off fireworks together."

"I'd love to but my wolf isn't particular fond of fireworks.” I grimace.

Aurora pouts her lips but she doesn't give up so easily. She gives me a stern look, declaring that she would have a negotiation with my wolf and then steps closer to me, leaning her little head on my stomach and whispers, "Hello Shadow, are you there? Can you hear me? Let's talk."

I can hear Shadow whine in my mind. It is hilarious, but I have to keep my promise to Shadow. So I hold back my laughter and pull myself away from Aurora and inform her, "Shh, he is sleeping."

"How about we waking him up?"

"Out of the question! I will pretend to be asleep till the end of the world.” Shadow snarls without a second thought and shouts at me, "Ryan! What are you waiting for? Rejecting the evil witch!"

Lucky for him that Aurora cannot hear him.

I clear my throat and say, "Never tickle a sleeping dragon."

"But Shadow is a wolf. He is not a dragon." Aurora retorts and shakes her head in disappointment, "Alright. I will spare him this time. What a lazybone. But you must tell him later that he missed the honor to set off fireworks with me."

"I assure you I'll let him know." I wink at Aurora and remind her, "Don't forget to wear your mask. The ball is soon to begin."

"Right. And you should wear yours.” Aurora nods eagerly. She reaches out to her pocket, pulls out a twig and points it to herself. She closes her eyes and mutters something to cast the spell. In a blink of an eye, she is wearing a half-face pink mask dotted with flowery patterns.

"That's impressive." I am astonished by her skillful display of magic.

"Thanks." Aurora smiles shyly. She kisses the twig in her hand, waves me goodbye and runs downstairs while humming a song.

I’ve never heard it before, neither can I recognize the language she is speaking. It can be exclusive to witches. Her beautiful voice is enchanting, lingering in the mansion for a long while until it comes to an abrupt end. I am on my way to the second floor and wonder what could possibly stop Aurora from singing. As I put on my mask and stood on the balcony, I hear Aurora’s exclamation. I look in her direction, only to see a masked lady running towards the entrance. When she dashes across the gate, she stumbles over a rock and falls forward. She is about to fall to the ground when Aunt Agnes reaches out in time and prevents her from falling.

“Sad sack.” Shadow sneers.

I glance at the watch and say, “But she manages to arrive at the last minute. Maybe she is only trying not to be late.”

Shadow snorts again, apparently not pleased about the lady’s awkward arrival. Her way of showing up, however, impresses Aurora and draws her closer. They start chatting and it is a pity that I cannot hear what they are talking about due to the distance. I watch them for a while and tell Shadow the lady must be something, for she has the charism to distract Aurora and makes the latter totally forget her obsession with fireworks.

“You’ve got a point.” Shadow muses, “Whoever the lady is, she gives me a good impression. It seems that she can handle the evil witch. How about you go downstairs and invite her to dance with you?”

“Nope. I’d prefer to save the first dance for my lady.” I grin and scan the guests, “Do you think she is already here? Since the ball has started—”

“No. I think she might not show up. And you’d regret you didn’t invite the lady in white to dance with you. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. You shouldn’t miss the chance in front of you.”

“You’d say so only because the lady can deal with Aurora. Besides, my conscience won’t allow me to be so fickle.” I grimace.

“Fine.” Shadow grumbles in discontent and proposes, “Let’s get your things done quickly. Then I’d go to sleep and you shall enjoy the party and leave me alone.”

“Alright.” I agree with him and signal the chef d'orchestre to start the performance.

With the music flowing in, I carry out my plan by mind-linking all the guests and asking them to grab a champagne to toast to the moon. All of them answer to me except two. One is Aurora while the other is the lady standing next to her. They exchang a look and are both confused.

I am shocked by the discovery and can’t help but tease my wolf, “It seems that we fall for the same person, my dear friend. It turns out that we have similar taste.”

“I won’t take that as a compliment. I am much more sensible than you.” Shadow huffs.

“You bet.” I laugh and head down stairs, “I am going to ask her for a dance. Do you want to stay with us?”

“No. End the link. I don’t want her to hear us.” Shadow refuse.

“An alternative is to watch us in silence.”

“That’ll be an unbearable torture. I’ll pass. ”

“Ok. Good night then.” I end the link as I approach my lady with a smile and put out my left hand, “Would you like to dance?”

She neither accepts nor refuses, but gazes at me without saying a word. I am too nervous to maintain the eye contact so I bow a little to keep my head down, hand still hang in the air waiting for her to take.

After a long pause of silence, she gently puts her hand in mine and says softly, “Yes, of course.”